Hampshire

English ham + shire (county), from Old English Hamtunscīr. The 'p' evolved phonetically between [m] and [sh], as with Thom'p'son.

The community in Prince Edward Island is named after the county in England. The name was inspired by nearby Wiltshire.

• IPA^(key): /ˈhæmpʃɪə(ɹ)/, /ˈhæmpʃə(ɹ)/

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• Hyphenation: Hamp‧shire
• Rhymes: -æmpʃɪə(ɹ), -æmpʃə(ɹ)

Hampshire (countable and uncountable, plural Hampshires)

1. A placename
   1. A maritime county in the south of England, United Kingdom bordered by Berkshire, Surrey, West Sussex, Dorset, Wiltshire, the English Channel and the Solent separating it from the Isle of Wight; the county town is Winchester.
   2. A community and rural municipality in Queens County, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
   3. Ellipsis of Hampshire County.
2. A surname.

Hampshire (plural Hampshires)

1. A pig of a domestic breed characterized by erect ears, a black body, and a white band around the middle, covering the front legs.

• Hamprace